2010 movies

2010 was history, and in terms of film-watching, I'd watched 71 movies last year. It worked out to about 6 movies watched in each month, or almost 2 movies a week. I think it was quite a lot, but I'm sure there are many people out there who may even have a higher number.

From those 71 movies, here are the 10 which are the least enjoyable, and the most enjoyable for me in alphabetical order.

The Least Enjoyable Movies Watched in 2010

1. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Roger Ebert considered this one of the best movies in 2009, but not for me. I wasn't sure what the iguana symbolized, and I didn't care at all. Luckily, Eva Mendes was still the cure for sore eyes here.

2. Box, The

The movie was depressingly long. Coming from someone who's as depressed as me, it means really, really bad. I couldn't wait for the end credit to appear.

3. Case 39

I couldn't even remember what this movie was about. It was that bad.

4. Cop Out

Tracy Morgan & Bruce Willis were horrible. Thank the Lord for Stifler!

5. Gamer

What a mess. A noisy mess.

6. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1

They said that the reason the book was split into 2 movies wasn't commercial. I didn't believe it at all after coming out of the cinema.

7. Jennifer's Body

The only silver lining from this one was Diablo Cody's witty dialogue.

8. Ninja Assassin

If you watched this movie, you would believe that human body contained 10 gallons of blood. Sho Kosugi looked cool, though.

9. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Watching this movie was painful for me because I loved the books and the movie sucked big time. I wasn't sure what Rick Riordan thought about this movie, although I would be pretty upset if I were him. But I still hope that they will continue making the remaining 4 series.

10. Skyline

Special effects: 9

Everything else: -20

It's movie like this that gives sci-fi genre a bad name.

The Most Enjoyable Movies Watched in 2010

1. Brothers

I haven't watched the original Danish movie, but this one was pretty good for me. Probably the best movie that explored the emotional effect of wars in Iraq or Afghanistan so far.

2. Despicable Me

I was alternating between Toy Story 3, Despicable Me, and How to Train Your Dragon. But in the end, the minions won it for me.

3. District 9

How can you not love this movie? It's refreshingly original and it gave us Murdock!

4. Funny People

With the stellar cast assembled by Judd Apatow & Adam Sandler, you would be out of your mind if you're bored with this one.

5. Hurt Locker, The

The Academy loved it, and so did I.

6. Inception

There's no 2010 without this movie.

7. Inglourious Basterds

I was hoping the movie would keep going and never end. The last time I felt like that was while I was watching The Dark Knight, and The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King.

8. Kick-Ass

Never mind Nicolas Cage. Just focus on Chloe Grace Moretz.

9. Social Network, The

You can't take your eyes off of the screen. It's tightly woven, and hard-hitting. However, the worst thing of this movie was having the feeling that you could be one of the guys there, and you have missed to take part in the once-in-a generation opportunity.

10. Up In The Air

Those who wanted to be like George Clooney's character, raise your hands! OK, I don't need to count, all of you have raised your hands.

tempus fugit

I was on my way back last night when I kept looking at Oasis’ Time Flies (1994-2009) box set in the plastic bag. The title and the years somehow transported me back to my life 15 years ago. And what a trip back it was.

Although the band started in 1994, my first contact with them was in 1995 through Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back in Anger. I’d just started my freshman year and being in a new place, new system, I was grasping for a firm grip on life.

The Morning Glory album was a total blast for me in a sense that not since NKOTB’s Hangin’ Tough or Nirvana’s Nevermind that I could really enjoy all songs in an album. I was easily hooked, and I couldn’t stop humming Wonderwall wherever I went.

It became even better once I’d discovered Defintely Maybe. While Morning Glory was more commercial & melodic, Definitely Maybe was what Oasis was all about. Their whole image, sound, and style as a band was defined by that album. It was loud, cocky, and had all the materials to turn 5 normal guys into rock n’ roll stars.

Oasis’ songs quickly became the anthem of my life back then. It had everything that I need. Invincibility (Live Forever), romance (Wonderwall), confidence (Supersonic), diversion (Cigarettes & Alcohol), and probably the Bohemian Rhapsody of my generation (Champagne Supernova).

Even after Morning Glory, when the band started to take the downward route for their fame, I would suddenly out of nowhere hum Live Forever, or Don’t Look Back in Anger. Sally somehow had taken a permanent residence in the back of my mind.

From the first day I listened to Wonderwall until now, I’ve reached the highest bliss, dropped down to the deepest sorrow, wailed of sadness like a mad man, laughed hard, and seen loved ones come & departed. But through it all, among the joy & sadness, one melody from Oasis is always around like a lucky coin that’s always there whenever you need it. It’s the soundtrack for perhaps the most important part of my life.

When I finally caught their concert last year, I thought the cycle was complete. I was wrong. With the band breaking up, Time Flies box set and its music video DVD is the last piece of the missing puzzle.

I’m here now, and though the band is not, they will always be in me one way or another. This is a toast to the greatest band in the world; an appreciative gesture from one mortal soul who’s been touched by the Gods and their music.

Here’s for the reunion, and the next time Noel or Liam punches the other in the gut.

no more

Please stop the music,
it's getting too much to bear
Forget the fairy tale,
I've chosen to be a non-believer
Leave me be,
As I've reached the end

the Sally & Lyla affair

It's Sunday evening, Oasis is in town, and the sky's been wet since morning. Are you sure this is not Manchester?

Let's do an age check. Some guys are in their early 20s with their City kit on. What's their first Oasis song? Anything from Standing album? Are they here just to follow the hype or just to headbang to anything loud? Do they even know that City is shite?

Welcome to the Gallagher temple where we all come hoping that we could become a rock n' roll star for just one night, and the gods return the worship with incredulous look like they don't give a single damn about it.

I'm referring to our heavenly Liam, of course.

Come in, feel free to scream along, the mass is in full session now.

Liam shows off his new skill of biting the tambourine, and balancing it on his head. What an amazing talent! And Noel really shows us who's the ringleader of the band, even though he keeps thanking us and taking the mickey out of those coming with Scotland flag.

There's no question which songs get the most response from the audience. At least the girl next to me seems to buy the ticket only for Wonderwall. But the highlight must be when all of us loudly lamented why Sally can wait.

Then it's over. The gods return to where they belong, and we are back to be merely mortal. Back to our own shit life serenaded by Blue Moon.

Those bloody Gallaghers and their City..

Setlist:
1. Fuckin' In The Bushes
2. Rock 'n' Roll Star
3. Lyla
4. The Shock of The Lightning
5. Cigarettes & Alcohol
6. To Be Where There's Life
7. Waiting For The Rapture
8. The Masterplan
9. Songbird
10. Slide Away
11. Morning Glory
12. The Importance of Being Idle
13. I'm Outta Time
14. Wonderwall
15. Supersonic
16. Don't Look Back In Anger
17. Falling Down
18. Champagne Supernova
19. I Am The Walrus

puzzled happiness

a piece of white space is laid out in front of me
one by one, each piece of the puzzle assembles itself from the past
i can almost see the whole picture now
it's a big, grinning, happy face
it's funny how it looks like mine

manage

I looked at my business card and wondered why there should be a "manager" stated there. It was more confusing as I felt that I wasn't that good in managing.

I'm not doing particularly well in managing my life, let alone people or stuffs at my workplace.

Things became more obvious recently when the stuff given back to me was more the result of doing it for the sake of doing it, rather than learn to do it and evolve from there.

I know this is the first time you're doing it. But, you're supposed to think while doing it! All of those explanations and examples surely should lead you somewhere, right?

Mistakes were expected and I'm totally fine with it. But, the failure in grasping the whole concept and thinking outside of the instruction really left me exasperated.

Either I was that bad in explaining so you failed to see the whole big picture, or you're just loving Nike that much.

Let me take look at that business card one more time.

on laughing matter

I just finished watching Ben Stiller's The Heartbreak Kid on HBO. It's a movie that I've been eyeing ever since its trailer made me laugh so hard. Unfortunately, its DVD never made it to my nearest VideoEzy. So, HBO it is.

Anyway, hours after watching the movie, I realized that I really laughed outloud. It got me thinking of the last time I did that. I was kinda shocked to know that it was a long while back.

Is it really difficult now to laugh silly for ourselves?

I would think that it has everything to do with the situation we're all in now. Every time I open the newspaper or read online, it's always the same thing about people losing job or getting pay cut, and how number for a certain company or country is getting worse. It's making life even more depressing and difficult.

Amidst the gloom, the box office revenue tracker in America reported that movie income this year is actually increasing. A sign that more and more people try to get a quick solace from all of the stressing stuffs.

I know that for some people it's a luxury now to go to the movie to get the quick fix. But you can always find comforting things from anywhere.

It could be a quiet dinner moment alone with your spouse, a giggle from your baby, chatting with friends about nothing in particular, or in my case getting a chance to keep in touch with my elementary school friends and reminisce about things that happened 20 years ago in our lives.

It's strange that you can't help but smile now at things that made your knees weak two decades ago. But if it puts a smile to your face, and make your 9-to-5 bearable a bit longer, then do it and do that even more.

While a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel isn't too much to ask. There's no harm in keeping our hopes up.

May we all be safe and keep uploading those old pictures online!

totally

I've made it known clearly
You've provided your response
Let's not make it over the line
We won't visit the same road anymore

I totally understand

another.gone

Another year will soon pass and I'm not sure if I want to look back on it.

While not all things are bad this year, some really succeed in making me fall to the lowest point of my life and see everything draped in dark shadows with no lights in sight.

Then some other things are so good they bring joy to my life and tears of happiness.

This is yet another year to learn, fail, fight, rage, curse, achieve, discover, and grow up.

But, is it also another year wasted for me? Is it in this year when decisions are finally made and separation loom large?

It's almost gone now, and I really hope that I come out alright from it and have my skin thicker for the next one.

Just bring it on and come what may. The previous phrase looks good to the eyes, though I don't believe I actually have that mentality.

head down

I was waiting for my turn in the doctor's office this afternoon when it came right through my mind.

It's THAT simple. What a revelation.

The question is now whether I can fully committed to doing it and not to waver.

I'll be the first one to admit that I'm not the best person in the world to focus at what I do. Hell, "difficult to concentrate" is one phrase that you'll always see in the description for Gemini.

But I mean I'm really stubborn. Why can't I be stubborn for this thing? Don't look for silly reasons to let myself stray somewhere.

It's time to ACTUALLY do what I write. Head down, steam ahead.